Gallinari gets on track in first game with Knicks

Good debut by Gallinari (AP Photo)

15-07-2008 10:52 | Александър Сотиров

After a scoreless first half, Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points in a hurry in the second half of his Knicks debut, helping New York beat Cleveland on Monday.

Gallinari, who was selected by the Knicks with the No. 6 pick of the 2008 NBA draft, scored all of his points in just over 7 minutes during the third and fourth quarters. Gallinari finished with 5-for-11 from the field and added six rebounds in New York’s 97-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the NBA Summer League.

Gallinari’s last two points were on free throws with 5:06 remaining in the final quarter. He was taken out of the game less than one minute later and did not return due to a sore back.
“I was hurting all game,” he said.

He missed all four of his shots in the first half.

“I was just trying to play hard. After figuring out the refs and the teams, I played better in the second half,” Gallinari said. “I will adapt my game to it.”

Gallinari averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 rebounds for Armani Jeans Milano of the Italian A-1 League and 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 2008 Euroleague play.

Wilson Chandler led the Knicks with 26 points. First-round pick J.J. Hickson had 26 points for Cleveland.